U.S. patent number 4,087,088 [Application Number 05/726,167] was granted by the patent office on 1978-05-02 for moving artificial ski surface construction.
Invention is credited to Kenneth J. Kelso.
United States Patent |
4,087,088 |
Kelso |
May 2, 1978 |
Moving artificial ski surface construction
Abstract
An artificial ski surface construction includes a support
surface having an energy absorbing base of elastomer thereon. A
flexible sheath covers the energy absorbing base and includes a
continuous surface having a fabric underside to contact the sheath
with fibers extending upwardly therefrom to provide an artificial
ski surface. A structure positions the support surface to form a
slope and the continuous surface forms an endless belt which is
mounted on rollers with motor means to rotate the rollers and move
the continuous surface relative to the sheath and elastomer
base.
Inventors: |
Kelso; Kenneth J. (Houston,
TX) |
Family
ID: |
24917509 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/726,167 |
Filed: |
September 24, 1976 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
472/91;
198/321 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
69/18 (20130101); A63C 19/10 (20130101); E01C
13/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
69/18 (20060101); A63C 19/00 (20060101); A63C
19/10 (20060101); E01C 13/00 (20060101); E01C
13/12 (20060101); A63G 021/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/56.5SS,56.5R,97,69
;198/841 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Kramer; Arnold W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hayden; Jack W.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In an artificial ski surface construction wherein the ski
surface is supported at an angle to form a slope and wherein power
means are provided to move the artificial ski surface along the
slope, the invention including:
a. a continuous support surface;
b. an energy absorbing base of elastomer covering said continuous
support surface and having an upper surface;
c. a flexible membrane extending continuously longitudinally and
laterally over the upper surface of said elastomer base;
d. a movable, continuous surface including a fabric underside to
contact said continuous membrane as the continuous surface is moved
thereover, and said continuous surface having fibers extending
upwardly from the fabric to provide an artificial ski surface;
and
e. said energy absorbing elastomer base being of substantially
greater thickness than the combined thickness of said flexible
continuous membrane and movable continuous surface.
Description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Various means have been proposed to simulate a ski surface either
for practice skiing or as a training aid in teaching skiing. The
present invention provides a relatively simple construction which
quite effectively simulates a natural skiing surface to enable a
beginner to learn how to ski as well as providing a surface so that
an accomplished skier can practice thereon.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become
more readily apparent from a consideration of the following
description and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an elevational view illustrating the present invention
positioned ready for use; and
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the detailed
construction of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In FIG. 2 the details of the artificial ski surface are illustrated
in enlarged sectional view and the invention is shown as including
a support surface referred to generally at 5 which is formed
preferably of corrugated metal wherein the corrugations illustrated
at 6 include the spaced flat portions 7 which are joined by the
sloping side 8 and 9. It will be noted that the corrugations extend
laterally of the overall ski surface construction as referred to
generally by the numeral 15 in FIG. 1 and is covered by a thin
layer of sheet metal 4 to provide a continuous support for the
remainder of the artificial ski surface during use when one or more
persons are supported thereon.
Suitable means are provided as referred to generally at 20 to
position the artificial ski surface 15 on a slope of a desired
angle as shown in FIG. 1, such means 20 including the vertical
supports 21 which are secured to the frame 22 in which the metal
support surface 5 is carried. It will be noted that the vertical
supports 21 are shorter at the lower, forward end 25 of the
artificial ski surface 15 than at the elevated, rear end 30 of the
artificial ski surface 15 to provide a slope or inclined surface of
desired angle.
Mounted on the support surface 5 is an energy absorbing base of
elastomer 10, which elastomer may be, for example, and is
preferably foam rubber. It will also be noted that the foam rubber
base is of substantial thickness and preferably at least a minimum
of three to four times as thick as the remainder of the artificial
ski surface supported thereon. A flexible membrane 11 is mounted
adjacent the upper surface of foam rubber base 10 such membrane 11
being continuous throughout the longitudinal and lateral extent of
the artificial ski surface 15 and may be formed of either metal,
fabric or plastic to provide a continuous surface 12 for
accommodating movement of that portion of the artificial ski
surface referred to at 14. The membrane 11 may be secured to the
base 10 in any suitable manner or it may be fixed in position by
securing to base 5 to retain it adjacent the base 10. The lower
surface of the elastomer 10 is carried on the sheet metal layer
4.
The portion 14 of the artificial ski surface 15 comprises a
continuous surface referred to generally at 17 with fibers 18, such
as by way of example only, the artificial or natural fibers of the
nap of a rug, which face upwardly from a fabric base or underside
19 secured with the fibers 18. The fabric base is preferably of
canvas or any other suitable fabric or plastic material which is
continuous and smooth throughout the longitudinal and lateral
extent of the continuous surface of material 17. It will be noted
that the continuous surface 17 is in the form of an endless belt as
shown in FIG. 1 and is movably supported on the longitudinally
extending rollers 26, 27 and 28 that are carried by the means 20 in
any suitable manner. A suitable power source 33 such as a motor is
provided for imparting rotation to one or more of the rollers to
move the endless, continuous surface 17 relative to the membrane 11
and the energy absorbing base 10 arranged on the support surface
5.
Thus, when the continuous surface 17 is moved relative to the
energy absorbing base 10 and membrane 11, one or more persons with
skis can stand on the fibers 18 of the moving continuous surface 17
and this will simulate a natural skiing surface. The continuous
surface 17 moves from the lower end 25 towards the upper end 30 of
support 5 and the people on the ski surface 15 face the lower end
25 as the continuous surface 17 moves upwardly beneath their skis.
It can be appreciated that the length of the vertical supports 21
can be adjusted to provide a desired incline of the artificial ski
surface 15 during use.
A safety surface 40 at the lower end 25 of the artificial ski
surface 15 and a safety surface 45 at the upper end thereof are
provided and may be formed of any suitable material to serve as a
means for catching or receiving anyone who may fall on the surface
and may move either downwardly therealong, or upwardly by reason of
the movement of the continuous surface 17 from the lower front end
25 of the artificial ski surface 15 to the upper elevated rear end
30.
The surface 12 of the thin metal, fabric or plastic membrane 11 is
continuous and provides a smooth, uninterrupted surface that causes
little frictional resistance to the fabric 19 as the continuous
surface 17, of which the fabric 19 is the base or nether surface
moves thereover. Also, the fabric 19 is continuous and
uninterrupted so that when the fabric 19 and surface 12 are engaged
due to the weight of a person on the fibers 18 of the continuous
surface 17 anywhere on the sloped artificial ski surface 15, a
minimum of frictional resistance is present. Also, since the
surface 12 and the surface of fabric 19 are smooth, no abrupt
surface variations will cause the skis of a user to move in a
manner to cause the skier to fall. The elastomer base 10 absorbs
the shock of impact if a skier should fall and inhibits injury.
The safety surfaces 40 and 45 are provided with supports 42 to
enable them to maintain their respective positions at the upper and
lower end of the sloped artificial ski surface 15.
The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are
illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the
size, shape, and materials as well as in the details of the
illustrated construction may be made without departing from the
spirit of the invention.
* * * * *